Unit information: Tragedy and Self in 2011/12

Unit name	Tragedy and Self
Unit code	CLAS37020
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Lampe
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None,
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Classics & Ancient History
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

Why don't we know what Virgil's Aeneas looks like? Why does Iphigenia's change of heart, in Euripides Iphigenia in Aulis, strike Aristotle as wildly improbable? When Sophocles' Ajax goes away to kill himself, why are his last words, "Perhaps you'll hear, although I'm wretched now, that I have been saved"? All of these questions provoke us to think about what makes someone who they are. In this unit we'll approach this issue through the 'heroic' characters of Greek and Roman tragedy. We'll use selective readings from ancient and modern philosophy, critical, and literary theory to highlight the issues under discussion, and we'll also watch and analyze Slavoj Zizek's film, The Pervert's Guide To Cinema. But the emphasis will remain on close readings of drama. In the final sessions, we'll consider how the reception of classical tragedies in psychoanalysis (Lacan) and modern drama (Charles Mee) has informed modern conceptions of selfhood.

The aims of the unit are to:

• familiarise students with key concepts for discussing “selfhood” and “identity” in modern philosophy and critical theory and to develop competence in their application

• introduce students to several ancient perspectives and theories regarding “selfhood,” “belonging,” and “character”

• develop a detailed and thoughtful acquaintance with selected works of Greek, Roman, and modern tragedy and use these ancient and modern conceptualizations of selfhood/identity to enrich an appreciation of these classical works

• to develop skills in oral and written communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should:

• be familiar with key concepts for discussing “selfhood” and “identity” in modern philosophy and critical theory and be competent in their application

• be familiar with several ancient perspectives and theories regarding “selfhood,” “belonging,” and “character”

• have a more detailed and thoughtful acquaintance with selected works of Greek, Roman, and modern tragedy and be able to use these ancient and modern conceptualizations of selfhood/identity to enrich their appreciation of these classical works

• have had opportunities to sharpen their understanding of all of these things in seminar conversations, oral presentations, and written assignments.

Teaching Information

Seminars

Assessment Information

One essay of 3,000 words (50%) and one examination of 90 minutes (50%).

Reading and References

Sophocles, Ajax and Philoctetes

Euripides, Iphigenia in Aulis and Orestes (The preferred translations are the Complete Greek Tragedies series, ed. D. Grene and R. Lattimore, University of Chicago.)

Mee, C. L. (1993) “Orestes,” Performing Arts Journal 15.3: 29-79. (warning: this drama contains extremely graphic language and content)

Zizek, S.(2006) How to Read Lacan. London.